A former stockbroker nicknamed 'Britain's Schindler' after saving hundreds of Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Prague was today awarded the Czech Republic's highest honour at the age of 105.
Sir Nicholas Winton rescued more than 650 refugee children from certain death in concentration camps by transporting them to the UK on trains and finding them foster families.
He received the Order of the White Lion from Czech president Milos Zeman, who had previously described him as 'an example of humanity, selflessness, personal courage and modesty'.
In a speech in front of some of the people he saved, Sir Nicholas said: 'Thank you all for this enormous expression of thanks for something which happened to me nearly 100 years ago - and 100 years is a heck of a long time.
'I am delighted that so many of the children are still here to thank me.'
He went on to praise the families who gave the children homes after they arrived in Britain.
'I thank the British people for making room for them to accept them,' he said.
'And of course the enormous help given by so many of the Czechs who were at that time doing what they could to fight the Germans and get the children out.'
His son Nick, granddaughter Holly, grandson Laurence, daughter Barbara and her husband Steve were also in attendance.
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'Britain's Schindler'
'Britain's Schindler'
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: 'Britain's Schindler'
nice. on CBS right now